Mullins' highlight reel extended with catch
This browser does not support the video element.
BALTIMORE -- Day after day, Cedric Mullins keeps outdoing himself.
The Orioles' breakout center fielder added to his already-lengthy highlight reel early in Wednesday's 14-1 loss to the Mets when he recorded the game¡¯s first out by robbing Jonathan Villar with perhaps his best defensive play yet. Ranging 69 feet to his right, Mullins needed just four seconds to take an extra-base hit away from Villar with a diving catch in the left-center-field gap.
Per Statcast, the play registered as 25 percent catch probability, making it the lowest (most difficult) converted by an Orioles player this season. He used a jump that was +8.3 feet compared to the MLB average on similar plays. Mullins entered play with +6 outs above average, tied with Brett Phillips for the second-best among outfielders in MLB.
All told, it was the latest All-Star bid in what¡¯s been a glistening first half for Mullins, who added to his American League-leading hit total with a single before scoring in the bottom of the first, after Pete Alonso¡¯s two-run homer off Matt Harvey put the Orioles in an early two-run hole. But their momentum was short-lived. The Mets scored seven runs in three innings off Harvey and piled on against Baltimore¡¯s bullpen, while winner Taijuan Walker completed seven innings of one-run ball.
Mullins leads the AL with 76 hits and is batting .323 with .928 OPS through 61 games.
¡°That was a great play,¡± manager Brandon Hye said. ¡°The energy in the dugout was great after Ced makes that catch and follows it with the knock to left. We just have a tough time off Walker. He¡¯s having a great year, so give him credit for pitching extremely well.¡±